Combined shipping and display device

ABSTRACT

A combined shipping and display device formed by folding from a single blank of sheet material such as corrugated cardboard. The device includes a display part, and a removable cover which is hingedly connected to the display part at a score or fold line. Preferably, the cover has two lines of perforation which are parallel and adjacent to the fold line to define a connection strip between the display part and the cover. A pull tab is attached to each end of the connection strip to separate the cover from the display part. When such a merchandising display is used as a shipping carton, the cover closes to enclose the merchandise contained in the display part as well as a portion of the display part. Removing the cover from the display part will open the shipping carton and display the merchandise on the display part.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/993,155 filed on Sep. 10, 2007.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a merchandising display. More specifically, the present invention relates to a merchandising display foldable into shape from a single blank of sheet material and which has a removable cover so that when the cover is in a closed position, the merchandising display can function as a shipping carton.

2. Description of the Related Art

Merchandising displays are widely used. One type of merchandising display is usually folded into shape from a single blank of sheet material. In addition, such a merchandising display usually has graphic designs on its front and side exterior surfaces. Such merchandising displays are then shipped, with or without the merchandise to be displayed, to places such as supermarkets, drug stores, convenience stores, department stores, or other establishments where they are configured or assembled for use.

Such merchandising displays are usually shipped in a shipping carton or package in order to protect the merchandising display, its graphic designs, and/or the merchandise contained therein. Of course, multiple merchandising displays can be shipped in a single shipping carton. In any event, once such a merchandising display reaches its destination, a person at that destination has to open the shipping carton, take out the merchandising display and/or the merchandise, load the merchandising display with merchandise in the intended manner, manipulate or otherwise “set-up” the display and dispose of the shipping carton and other packing materials. The separate shipping carton complicates the shipping process because people have to pack, unpack and then dispose of the shipping carton. It also increases the shipping and labor costs, and creates waste.

Thus, there is a need for a merchandising display which simplifies the shipping process, minimizes the shipping and labor costs, and reduces waste.

A further need exists for a merchandising display which, itself, functions as a shipping carton.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To meet these and other needs, the present invention is directed to a shipping and merchandising display which is folded into shape from a single blank sheet material such as corrugated cardboard. The display includes a display part, and a removable cover which is hingedly connected to the display part at a score or fold line. Preferably, the cover has two lines of perforation which are parallel and adjacent to the fold line to define a connection strip between the display part and the cover. A pull-to-open tab is attached to an end of the connection strip so that one can simply pull the tab to separate the cover from the display part.

When such a display is used as a shipping carton, the cover closes to enclose the merchandise contained in the display part. Removing the cover from the display part will open the shipping carton and display the merchandise on the display part.

A combined shipping and display device is disclosed having a container portion for holding merchandise during shipping and point-of-purchase displaying. The container portion has a bottom panel and front, back, and side walls substantially transversely coextending from the bottom panel, the front and side walls each have an exterior surface for holding the merchandise in a configuration intended for retail display. A cover portion is provided having a top panel and side walls substantially transversely coextending from the top panel. The container portion and cover portion are integrally formed of a sheet material and are hingedly connected to each other. When in a closed position the cover portion covers at least a portion of the exterior surfaces, and when in an open position, the cover portion opens to reveal the merchandise held in the container portion to provide a point-of-purchase display for the merchandise. In one embodiment, indicia such as printing relating to the merchandise is contained on the exterior surface of one or more of the container portion side walls. The indicia is protected by the cover portion during shipping of the display device and is revealed when the cover is opened.

According to another embodiment, a foldable packaging blank for a combined shipping and point-of-purchase display container for displaying merchandise is disclosed. The packaging blank has a container blank portion divided by a plurality of first folding lines into a bottom panel and front, back, and side panels hingedly connected with the bottom panel and a plurality of first connecting panels each hingedly connected to one of the front, back, and side panels and foldable to be joined to another one of the front, back, and side panels of the container blank portion to form a display portion for holding the merchandise in a configuration for retail display. The packaging blank also includes a cover blank portion divided by a plurality of second folding lines into a top panel and a plurality of side panels hingedly connected with the top panel, the cover blank portion having a plurality of second connecting panels each hingedly connected to one of the side panels and foldable to be joined to another one of the side panels of the cover blank portion to form a cover portion. The display blank portion and the cover blank portion are formed from a single sheet material and are hingedly connected to each other. When the cover portion is closed, the cover portion covers at least a portion of the exterior surfaces. When the cover portion is opened, the cover portion reveals the merchandise held in the container portion to provide a point-of-purchase display for the merchandise.

The foldable display blank can be assembled by folding the foldable display blank along a folding line dividing the display blank into the hingedly connected display and cover blank portions; folding the front, back, and side panels of the display blank portion toward the front surface of the display blank along respective folding lines; connecting the front, back, and side panels of the display blank portion to one another to form a display portion; folding the side panels of the cover blank portion toward the front surface along respective folding lines; and connecting the side panels of the cover portion to one another to form the cover portion.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention. It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the inside surface of the unfolded blank for the merchandising display in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows the first exemplary embodiment of the merchandising display with its cover portion in a closed position;

FIG. 3 shows the first exemplary embodiment of the merchandising display with its cover portion in an opened position;

FIG. 4 shows the first exemplary embodiment of the merchandising display with its cover portion in an opened position so that merchandise supported by the display part is prominently displayed;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the inside surface of the unfolded blank for the merchandising display in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the inside surface of the unfolded blank for the merchandising display in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 a plan view of the outside surface of the unfolded blank for a merchandising floor to be used in connection with the third exemplary embodiment of the merchandising display of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 shows the third exemplary embodiment of the merchandising display with its cover portion in an opened position so that merchandise supported by the display part is prominently displayed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, an unfolded blank for a merchandising display in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention is generally designated by reference numeral 20. The blank 20, which is preferably comprised of corrugated cardboard, includes a display part 30 and a removable cover 80.

The display part 30 of the unfolded blank 20 includes a generally rectangular bottom panel 31 which has a pair of lateral edges 32, a front edge 33, and a back edge 34. The display part 30 also includes a generally rectangular back panel 35 hingedly connected to the back edge 34 of the bottom panel 31, a generally rectangular front panel 40 hingedly connected to the front edge 33 of the bottom panel 31, and a pair of side panels 41 hingedly connected to the respective lateral edges 32 of the bottom panel 31.

In this application, the expression “hingedly connected” or the like refers to a living hinge formed by, for example, a score line or groove between two parts.

The back panel 35 includes a main part 42 having a first edge 43 and a pair of lateral edges 44, a pair of extensions 45 hingedly connected to the respective lateral edges 44 of the main part 42, and preferably a pair of connection tabs 50. Each of the tabs 50 is hingedly connected to a respective extension 45 along a fold line 51 and extends outward therefrom.

The front panel 40 includes an elongate first part 64, and an elongate second part 65 which is hingedly connected to the first part 64 along a fold line 70. The elongate second part 65 has a plurality of spaced retaining projections 71 at its front edge. In the example of FIG. 1, three retaining projections 71 are shown. Preferably, the second part 65 has a length which is slightly shorter than that of the first part 64.

Each of the side panels 41 includes a main part 52; a first extension 53 which is hingedly connected to the main part 52 along a fold line 54, a second extension 55 hingedly connected to the main part 52 along a fold line 60, and a connection tab 61 which is hingedly connected to the main part 52 along a fold line 62 and extends therefrom in a direction which is substantially parallel to the lateral edges 32 of the bottom panel 31. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the first extension 53 has a retaining projection 56 at its side edge. The second extension 55 has a retaining projection 63 at its front edge.

The cover 80 of the unfolded blank 20 includes a substantially rectangular top cover panel 81; a pair of side cover panels 82, each of which is hingedly connected to the top cover panel 81 along a fold line 83; and a front cover panel 84 which is hingedly connected to the top cover panel 81 along a fold line 85. The front cover panel 84 includes a main part 90; and a pair of extensions 91, each of which is hingedly connected to the main part 90 along a fold line 92. Preferably, the width d2 of the side cover panel 82 is about the same as the width d3 of the main part 90 of the front cover panel 84 and/or the width d1 of the main part 52 of the side panel 41.

As best illustrated in FIG. 1, the top cover panel 81 is hingedly connected to the first edge 43 of the back panel 35 along a fold line 86. Preferably, there are two lines of perforation 901 which are parallel and adjacent to the fold line 86 to define a connection strip 911. In FIG. 1, both of the lines of perforations 90 are shown on the top cover panel 81. However, both of them can be on the back panel 35. And they can be disposed so that one of them is on the top cover panel 81 while the other is on the back panel 35. Furthermore, one of them could become the fold line 86. Moreover, as discussed below in connection with the second exemplary embodiment, just one line of perforation can be used.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, a pull-to-open tab 921 is attached to one or both ends of the connection strip 911.

As should be understood, the relative sizes of various components of the blank can be changed, and therefore are of no significance. For example, in FIG. 1, the front/back edges 33, 34 have a length which is greater than the length of the lateral edges 32. The length of the front/back edges 33, 34, however, could be equal to or shorter than the length of the lateral edges 32. In addition, the width d1, d2, d3 could be much greater than the length of the front/back edge 33, 34 or the length of the lateral edges 32 so that the height of the resulting merchandising display is much greater than its length or width.

The folding steps will now be described.

First, the back panel 35 is folded upward along the back edge 34. Then each extension 45 of the back panel 35 is folded forward along a respective lateral edge 44 of the main part 42.

Each side panel 41 is then folded upward along a respective lateral edge 32. Each first extension 53 is then folded downward along a respective fold line 54 to hold or sandwich a respective extension 45 of the back panel 35 between the main part 52 and the first extension 53, with the respective retaining projection 56 being received in a respective slot 93 which is on the bottom panel 31 and disposed adjacent to the respective lateral edge 32. Each second extension 55 is then folded downward along a respective fold line 60 with its retaining projection 63 being received in a respective slot 93.

The connection tabs 50, 61 are then folded backward along their respective fold lines 51, 62. The front panel 40 is then folded upward along the front edge 33. Then the second part 65 of the front panel 40 is folded downward along the fold line 70 to hold or sandwich the connection tabs 50, 61 between the first part 64 and the second part 65. The retaining projections 71 on the second part 65 engage respective slots 94, which are on the bottom panel 31 and disposed adjacent to the front edge 33.

At this point, the display part 30 is folded into its final shape or configuration, as is shown in FIG. 3.

The cover 80 is then folded backward along the fold line 86 to a generally horizontal position. The extensions 91 of the front cover panel 84 are then folded upward along respective fold lines 92. The main part 90 of the front cover panel 84 is then folded upward along the fold line 85. Next, the side cover panels 82 are folded upward along respective fold lines 83. Optionally, each extension 91 is fixedly connected to the respective side cover panel 82 by glue, adhesive tape or fastener.

At this point, the cover 80 is folded into its final shape or configuration, as is shown in FIG. 3.

The sequence in which the blank 20 is folded into the merchandising display can be changed, and therefore is of no significance.

Referring now to FIG. 2, when the cover 80 is in its closed position, it completely covers the exterior surfaces of the main parts 52 of the side panels 41 and of the first part 64 of the front panel 40 so that graphic designs on such exterior surfaces are protected during shipping. When the cover 80 is in the closed position, the merchandising display can be used as a shipping carton with merchandise already loaded therein for display once the cover 80 is opened.

To use the merchandising display, one can simply rotate the cover 80 about the fold line 86 to an open position (see FIG. 3). Alternatively, if it is desired to display the merchandise without the cover 80, one can easily remove the cover 80 from the display part 30 by pulling one or both of the pull-to-open tabs 921.

FIG. 4 shows how packaged merchandise is supported by the merchandising display, and displayed. Of course, unpackaged merchandise can also be fixedly placed inside the display part 30 preferably by means of a spacer or other suitable fixing/spacing device.

FIG. 5 shows an unfolded blank 20′ for a merchandising display in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The second exemplary embodiment is substantially similar to the first exemplary embodiment. Therefore, in FIG. 5, identical reference numerals are used to designate identical components of the blanks 20, 20′, and similar reference numerals are used to designate similar components of the blanks 20, 20′. The following discussion mainly focuses on the differences between the first and second exemplary embodiments.

As clearly shown in FIG. 5, with respect to the display part 30′ of the second exemplary embodiment, each of the extensions 45′ of the back panel 35′ no longer has any connection tab. In addition, each of the side panels 41′ no longer has a second extension, but its first extension 53′ now has a retaining projection 56′ at its front edge. Each side panel 41′ also has a connection tab 61 a which is hingedly connected to the first extension 53′ along a fold line 61 b, and extends toward the front panel 40.

Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 5, only one line of perforation 901′ is provided, which is on the back panel 35′ of the display part 30′. The line of perforation 901′ is parallel to the fold line 86′, with the exception that when the line of perforation 901′ approaches a lateral edge 44 of the back panel 35′, it forms an angle of approximately 45 degrees relative to that lateral edge 44. The line of perforation 901′ and the fold line 86′ form a connection strip 911′. No specific pull-to-open tab is provided at either end of the connection strip 911′. However, one can make a pull-to-open tab by simply pressing or pulling one end of the connection strip 911′ along the line of perforation 901′. If it is desired to separate the cover 80 from the display part 30′, one can then easily do so by pulling one or both of ends of the connection strip 911′.

The folding steps of the blank of the second exemplary embodiment are substantially similar to those of the first exemplary embodiment. The main difference is that when each first extension 53′ is folded along a respective fold line 54′ to hold or sandwich a respective extension 45′ of the back panel 35′ between the main part 52′ and the first extension 53′, the two connection tabs 61 and 61 a are then folded along their respective fold lines and are held or sandwiched by the first part 64 and the second part 65 of the front panel 40.

FIG. 6 shows an unfolded blank 20″ for a merchandising display in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The third exemplary embodiment is somewhat similar to the first exemplary embodiment. Therefore, in FIG. 6, identical reference numerals are used to designate identical components of the blanks 20, 20″, and similar reference numerals are used to designate similar components of the blanks 20, 20″. The following discussion mainly focuses on the differences between the first and third exemplary embodiments.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, a pair of lateral extensions 100 are hingedly connected to the respective lateral edges 32″ of the bottom panel 31″.

With respect to the front panel 40″, the first part 64″ now has a width which is much greater than that of the second part 65″. The first part 64″ has a plurality of openings 102, each of which is suitable to hold a piece of merchandise. The openings 102 are separated from each other by a spacer 102 s, which can be formed by a remaining portion of the front panel 40″. The spacers 102 s can assist in retaining the merchandise in position.

The display part 30″ now has a pair of substantially triangle-shaped side panels 41″ which are hingedly connected to the first part 64″ of the front panel 40″ along respective fold lines 101. Each side panel 41″ has a lock tab 103 which is hingedly connected to the front edge 104 of the main body 52″ along a fold line 105. In the third exemplary embodiment, d1 is preferably about the same as d2, but d1 does not have to be equal to d3.

The back panel 35″ has a pair of lock slots 110 which are provided on respective extensions 45″ and are disposed adjacent to respective lateral edges 44″ of the main body 42″.

As clearly shown in FIG. 6, two lines of perforation 901″, which are parallel to the fold line 86″, are formed on the top cover panel 81. Preferably, one of the two lines of perforation 901″ becomes the fold line 86″. The two lines of perforation 901″ together form a plurality of arrow-shaped cuts. In addition, the two lines of perforation 901″ define the connection strip 911″.

The folding steps of the blank 20″ of the third exemplary embodiment are apparent in view of the discussions in connection with the folding steps of the first and second exemplary embodiments, and therefore will be discussed briefly and partially.

When the display part 30″ is folded, the extensions 100 are folded upward along the respective lateral edges 32. Then the back panel 35″ is folded upward along the back edge 34″. Then the extensions 45″ are folded forward along the lateral edges 44″.

Then the first part 64″ of the front panel 40″ is folded upward and toward the back panel 35″ along the front edge 33″. The second part 65″ of the front panel 40″ is folded downward along the fold line 70″ and is placed against the main part 42″ of the back panel 35″. The side panels 41″ are folded inward along the respective fold lines 101 and are placed outside of the extensions 100. Finally, the lock tabs 103 are folded inward along the respective fold lines 105 and are inserted into the respective lock slots 110.

At this point, the display part 30″ is folded into its final shape or configuration.

Optionally, a merchandising floor 111 is mounted inside the display part 30″. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the merchandising floor 111 has a generally rectangular-shaped main part 112, a pair of lateral extensions 113 which are hingedly connected to the main part 112 along respective fold lines 114, a front extension 115 which is hingedly connected to the main part 112 along a fold line 120, and a back extension 121 which is hingedly connected to the main part 112 along a fold line 122. As shown in FIG. 8, dividers may be included in the display part to separate the merchandise.

When it is desired to use the merchandising floor 111, the lateral extensions 113, the front extension 115 and the back extension 121 are folded downward along the respective fold lines 114, 120 and 122 and the folded merchandising floor 111 is then placed on the bottom panel 31″ before the folding of the display part 30″. The merchandising floor 111 is used to increase the portion of the displayed merchandise that can be seen by potential consumers.

Thus, while there have shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto. 

1. A combined shipping and display device comprising: a container portion for holding merchandise during shipping and point-of-purchase displaying, the container portion comprising a bottom panel and front, back, and side walls substantially transversely coextending from the bottom panel, the front and side walls each having an exterior surface for holding the merchandise in a configuration intended for retail display; and a cover portion comprising a top panel and side walls substantially transversely coextending from the top panel; wherein the container portion and cover portion are integrally formed of a sheet material and hingedly connected to each other; and wherein, in a closed position, the cover portion covers at least a portion of the exterior surfaces; and wherein, in an open position, the cover portion opens to reveal the merchandise held in the container portion to provide a point-of-purchase display for the merchandise.
 2. The shipping and display device of claim 1, further comprising a connection strip formed in the sheet material at one of the container portion and cover portion for allowing separation of the container portion from the cover portion.
 3. The shipping and display device of claim 2, wherein the connection strip comprises a perforation line.
 4. The shipping and display device of claim 2, further comprising a pull tab attached to an end of the connection strip, wherein the connection strip comprises two perforation lines.
 5. The shipping and display device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the side walls of the container portion contains, on the exterior surface, merchandise promotional information, wherein the side walls of the cover portion conceal the merchandise promotional information when the cover portion is in the closed position and wherein the merchandise promotional information is revealed when the cover portion is in the open position.
 6. The shipping and display device of claim 1, wherein the front wall of the container portion has a smaller length than that of each of the side walls.
 7. The shipping and display device of claim 1, wherein the front wall of the container portion is inclined and connected to the back wall, the front wall defining one or more openings for receiving merchandise.
 8. The shipping and display device of claim 7, wherein the front wall of the container portion defines a plurality of openings separated from each other by a wall spacer.
 9. The shipping and display device of claim 2, wherein the connection strip hingedly connects the top panel of the cover portion to the back wall of the container portion.
 10. A foldable packaging blank for a combined shipping and point-of-purchase display container for displaying merchandise, the packaging blank comprising: a container blank portion divided by a plurality of first folding lines into a bottom panel and front, back, and side panels hingedly connected with the bottom panel, the container blank portion having a plurality of first connecting panels each hingedly connected to one of the front, back, and side panels and foldable to be joined to another one of the front, back, and side panels of the container blank portion to form a display portion for holding the merchandise in a configuration for retail display; and a cover blank portion divided by a plurality of second folding lines into a top panel and a plurality of side panels hingedly connected with the top panel, the cover blank portion having a plurality of second connecting panels each hingedly connected to one of the side panels and foldable to be joined to another one of the side panels of the cover blank portion to form a cover portion; wherein the display blank portion and the cover blank portion are formed from a single sheet material and are hingedly connected to each other; wherein, in a closed position, the cover portion covers at least a portion of the exterior surfaces; and wherein, in an open position, the cover portion opens to reveal the merchandise held in the container portion to provide a point-of-purchase display for the merchandise.
 11. The packaging blank of claim 10, further comprising a connection strip formed in the sheet material at one of the container portion and cover portion for allowing separation of the container portion from the cover portion.
 12. The packaging blank of claim 11, further comprising a pull-to-open tab attached to each end of the connection strip, wherein the connection strip comprises two perforation lines.
 13. The packaging blank of claim 10, wherein the top panel has a longer dimension than a corresponding dimension of the bottom panel.
 14. The packaging blank of claim 10, wherein the packaging blank is a corrugated cardboard.
 15. The packaging blank of claim 11, wherein the connection strip hingedly connects the top panel of the cover blank portion to the bottom panel of the display blank portion.
 16. The packaging blank of claim 10, wherein the side panels of the cover blank portion have substantially a same height as that of side panels of the display blank portion when the packaging blank is in an assembled position. 